Silver Lake's Secret Pork Bun

The first bite is just the beginning of delicious. Pork Bun from United Bread and Pastry.

If you're living in Silver Lake, chances are you're a hipster stretched very thin financially. Whisky and weed take precedent over paying rent and most certainly expensive meals. So if you're looking for some cheap eats in Silver Lake check out United Bread & Pastry's Pork Bun.

Pork buns wait inside steaming for your love.

This little Filipino bakery sits quietly amongst one of Silver Lake's busiest areas - Sunset Plaza Triangle. Yet, many people don't know the deliciousness that hides in the drab, unassuming building between Pine & Crane and Yummy. At United Bread & Pastry, you can find bread, fresh roasted nuts and traditional Filipino desserts and groceries. But what I go for when I want a hearty snack is the pork bun.

Behind the counter filled with pastries is where the secret treasure is kept. A steamer box with several shelves sits near the wall. It's windows are steamy with beads of condensation, but you can see the buns inside just waiting to get into your belly. When you order the bun, it will come wrapped in a plastic baggie and ready to eat on the go. Make sure to pull the paper off the bottom. Unless you're into that sort of thing.

Hot out of the steamer. Pork bun from United Bread & Pastry.

The pork bun is a soft, pillowy dough that surrounds tender pieces of shredded pork spiced to perfection. It only costs $1.25 and one, most definitely two, will fill you up. They also have chicken available. Pop next door to Mornings Nights Cafe and grab an iced-tea and you're set!

UNITED BREAD & PASTRY
1515 Griffith Park Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90026
Silver Lake Neighborhood

National Cheeseburger Day at Haché LA

Habanero Burger at Haché LA, Silver Lake

 It's amazing how much your neighborhood can change in three months. As I spent the summer in Mexico City, my barrio of Silver Lake was busy making some changes of it's own. New shops and restaurants popping up as others shutter down. One of them to close it's doors was Tarascos on Sunset Blvd. I won't lie, I won't miss it. It was replaced by a burger joint. Haché to be exact.

I was happy to hear that we have a burger place in the neighborhood. But I was also fearful it was going to be a fifteen-dollar-hipster burger. On this glorious American holiday known as National Cheeseburger Day, I found out that I was wrong.

Haché is a welcome addition to the restaurants in Silver Lake. In fact, it's just what we needed. A non-pretentious environment with affordable food (and craft beer too). Burgers come in around the $6-$7 dollar range starting with their Karma Burger. It's a burger with all the standards with a patty that's not so standard. The patties that fill the burgers at Haché are made in-house daily from ground Angus sirloin and seasoned on the outside like you would your sirloin steak.

One of the lovely workers rockin' one of my banana stickers on her hat.

They offer a few other varieties of burgers like the "Swiss Onion" with Gruyere cheese and carmelized onion. There's also the "Habanero" with a four-chile mix, garlic mayo and queso fresco. I had the Habanero and it was quite good. However it was pretty mild and I didn't really get any of that fruity habanero flavor, it was more of a jalapeño burger.

Of course there's also french fries, strawberry basil lemonade and a very friendly staff. So grab a burger and brew at Haché sit outside on the patio and enjoy friends and music.

Taco Tasting Pop-up Food Photography

Thank you to everyone who came out to my Chow with Xhico Taco Tasting in Silver Lake at the beginning of the month. Photographer Jennifer Jaimes aka @photojeninc was on hand to take photos of the event. She just sent me these wonderful photos. Thanks Jenn!!

Filipino Street Food in Los Angeles...Only $1!!!

Authentic Pinoy Street Food in Los Angeles

Anytime I see a crowd of people standing around fire, I always hope for the best and that there is something delicious roasting over the coals. As I drove down Temple through Historic Filipino town, I passed a very unassuming yellow food truck. There were two BBQ's aflame, a huge line of people and the small mini mall was packed with cars whose hoods had become make shift dining tables where people were eating, congregating and having a great time. From the looks of things and wonderful aroma in the air, this was most certainly going to be something delicious.

I got quail egg, shrimp balls, lumpia and chicken feet.

The nice ladies of Dollar Hits!

I made my way through the smoke, closer to the slow jams blasting out of a large boom box neat the truck. There was a huge table in front of the truck filled with trays piled high with all sorts of finger foods -many things that had been skewered and many things that had been fried, and some had met both fates. I wasn't sure where to begin, so I started at the sign that says "Line Starts Here". A very sweet lady greeted me and I explained that I was new to all this. She explained that I was at "Dollar Hits" and everything was a dollar each. You pick either a small tray if you want a few things or a large foil tray if you're taking the party home. Then you proceed down the line picking all the amazing street foods that you want. Then you start adding up the dollars. There's worse ways to use your dollar bills: buying useless things at the dollar tree, making it rain at Jumbo's Clown Room or making origami cranes. I would much rather make countless trips through the line of this food truck.

BBQ's fired up with lots of goodies

I ended up getting the shrimp balls, deep fried quails eggs, lumpia, BBQ pork and BBQ chicken feet. I had never had chicken feet before. They were skewered and doused with sauce. Once you start sucking that sauce off, you really get into it and begin suckin' them bones clean! Lumpia is very much like a egg roll. It was fried to perfect with a flaky crust filled with spiced vegetables. Everything was delicious and I still have more to try when I go back. Also, if you get the melon (cantaloupe) drink, it's only $1 and free refills!

Free refills on Cantaloupe punch!

Only a five minute drive out of Silver Lake, you can find Dollar Hits Food Truck at the corner of Temple St. and Carondelet St. (just a few blocks from Rampart). They are there Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights from 6pm-11pm.

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"Pine & Crane Noodle Co" Taiwanese Food Restaurant Opening Soon in Silver Lake

Pine & Crane Noodle Co. Logo via Facebook

I'm very excited for Pine & Crane Noodle Co to open in Silver Lake. It's next door to the cafe, Morning Nights in the Sunset Triangle, where I often sit to sketch and get inspired by neighborhood friends. I've seen the construction going on since the end of last year and I'm getting anxious for the opening of this Taiwanese food restaurant. It's going to bring some new flavor to our hood. We have plenty of Thai, Vegan, American options. I don't think I've ever had Taiwanese food per se. I've had Chinese but I know Taiwan is an island that likes to think of it's self as an independent.

According to About.com:

Mainland China's position on Taiwan is that there is only one China and that Taiwan is part of China; the People's Republic of China is awaiting reunification of the island and mainland. However, Taiwan claims independence as a distinct State.

With a mix of Chinese, Japanese and aboriginals, Taiwanese food is bound to have some interesting flavors.

Beef Noodle Soup Spice's via Pine&Crane Facebook

The owner is a young Tawainese woman. I've only met her breifly, but I've seen her buzzing about like a hard-working bee with her family and friends close behind to help. The facade of the old Cru restaurant along with the space next door is shaping up with a fresh look quite quickly.

Tea Tasting via Pine&Crane Instagram

I think this restaurant is going to be special for so many reasons - it's family owned, supporting sustainable, local, seasonal produce. According to a sign in their window nearly all the produce will be from their very own family farm. The menu will consist of "noodles, dumplings, scallion pancakes, beef rolls, plenty of seasonal vegetables, a few of our signature Taiwanese dishes like Three-Cup Chicken and Twice-Cooked Pork. Beer, wine and Taiwanese Teas served alongside."

Pine & Crane Noodle Co
Taiwanese Restaurant
Silver Lake
1521 Griffith Park Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026

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Pine & Crane Facebook

Note in Window

Local Heros: Berlin Currywurst

Hardeep tops currywurst with yellow curry spice powder

Yesterday the residents of Silver Lake were blessed with the opening of Berlin Currywurst. The Sunset Junction's neighborhood now has simple, delicious food and affordable prices thanks to three beautiful people from Germany taking over the old Pupuseria and giving it a modern overhaul.

Local Heros: Hardeep, Lena & Haike making food and new roots in LA.

Hardeep, Lena and Haike have brought the flavor of Berlin's streets to Los Angeles. They have perfected authentic recipes from Germany for Currywursts topped with tantalizing sauces that will make your taste buds sing. They have four levels of spice and you get to determine the heat level. Be warned trying Level Four, your taste buds might scream.

Paprikawurst with Jambalaya Sauce

Basically a currywurst is a sausage sliced up and topped with a tomato-based sauce. The sauces are all made in-house from organic sources. The sausages made by a supplier with traditional German methods. The meat is 100% natural with no added hormones or antibiotics. It's served with shepards bread to sop up all the sauce. Make sure to try the Fritten - homemade fries from organic potatoes with minced onions. They're great with ketchup or mayo.

Here's how it works:

FIRST - You pick your currywurst (it's a sausage). They have a variety of meat selections, as well as, vegetarian tofu options. What ever you're in the mood for - pork, beef, chicken, tofu - they make it delicious.

Choose your currywurst from the Chalkboard Menu

SECOND - Choose your heat level. They have four heat levels, two of which you must be 16 years or older to try. They are all named aptly:
- Berlin Calling (heat level 1)
- Bear Bender (heat level 2)
- Kiezgrösse - Local Hero (heat level 3) *
- Break the Wall (heat level 4) *
*must be 16yrs or older

Choose your heat level

THIRD - You Flavor. Pick from four disctinctive sauces flavors: fruity, chipotle, garlic or jambalaya.

Mini wood forks from Germany

FOURTH - Eat with their little wood forks imported from Germany one tasy bite at a time. You'll be wanting more when you eat your last bite of sauage.

Try the Fritten with minced onion

Located on Sunset on the corner of Hyperion, you enter a sparse space, but with a very warm feeling and smiles from the wonderful owners. The tall white walls are covered with black and photos of Berlin taken by a friend of the owners. Brickwork, wooden communal style tables, old school chairs and casual chalkboard menu give charm and warmth to this little space. They also have a wonderful patio if you would like to sit in the warm California sun while munching on some delectable food.

Enjoy the afternoon sun on the patio.

Get it to go.

MENU for Berlin Currywurst

Berlin Currywurst is located at 3827 W Sunset Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90026. Located on the corner of Hyperion next to Pazzo Gelato at Sunset Junction.

Berlin Currywurst on Twitter

Berlin Currywurst on Facebook

GrowlerEats Video: Berlin Currywurst

See more photos of food from Berlin Currywurst on Foodspotting.